Trolley-hoisting block.



UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. COOK, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,KAS,SIGNOR TO HENRY B. NEWHALL, OF'PLAINFIELD, NEX/Y JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 694,836, dated March 4, 1902.

Application filed June 15, 1901. Serial No. 64,653. (No model.)

in connection with an I-bealn trolley-track` such as is used for overhead trolleys. Fig. 2 is a sectional topview of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of my device. Fig. 4 is a detail.

The main frame of my block is formed of' two curved side members E E", which are bolted at either end to suitable blocks D, which serve to support swiveling trolley-trucks C C. These trolley-trucks are formed, as is seen from Figs. l and 3,0f a U -s'haped bracket, in either end of which are mounted the journals of two trolley-wheels B,set so as to engage the track A. These trolley-wheels may be provided withA any suitable form of bearing, and it is desirable that they should be formed with roller-bearings to reduce the friction. Each of these U-'shaped brackets has journaled in it the short shaft D2, which can turn readily in the bearing-block D andv which has secured, to its lower end a bearingplate D. This bearing-plate has formed upon its upper surface an annular groove which coacts with a similar groove upon lthe lower face of the bearing-block D to support bearing-balls to render the turning of these trolley-trucks more easy. Y

In addition to `the features already described it Will be noted that the U-shaped bracket C has rigidly secured to it the anglebracket J, which serves to support the clamping device by which I secure the block in any desired position upon `the track. "Iwo short bearing-pivots L are rigidly secured to the bracket J, and the clamping-levers K are secured in position upon these pivots by nuts, as shown. The clamping-leversare formed with suitable clamping-faces K to grip the lower edge of the trolley-rail, and the lower ends of these levers K are formed with in- I clined bearing-faces K2, which are forced apart Vby the clamping-wedge J3, rigidly secured to the Wedge-handle J2 and having a pivot J4, supported to turn in a block J. This block can also turn in a vertical plane about the pivots J5,(shown in Fig. 4,) so that the clamping-wedge can move in a vertical plane and also Ycan rotate about the pin L4, as indicated in Fig. l in dotted lines. The lvertical height of the clamping-Wedge J3 this wedge is shown in Fig. 3 is small enough so that this Wedgewhen it is turned into the dotted position (shown in y Figui) can pass freely between. the ends of the clamping-levers, so as to be entirely free from these levers. The Wedge-handle would then hang vertically downward from the pivots J5 and the clamp would be inoperative.

The hoisting mechanism proper is formed as followsz- The chain wheel L', which is formed with suitable proj eetions in the groove around its'periphery so that it grips a chain L, is rigidly secured to the shaft H', to which the worm-wheel H is also rigidly secured. This shaft H is mounted in suitable bearings in the two bearing-brackets E2. Integral sleeves are formed at either end of these brackets, through which the bolts Eu1 pass to clamp the whole structure to the side members E E of rthe.block-frame. vThese bolts also serve to hold the bearing-bracket E3 to E-one of these side members.

In the bracket E3 are formed the two j ournal-bearings E5, in which y l( a worm-shaft G is mounted. Rigidly attached to the worm-shaft are the worm I and the beveled pinion G, with which meshes the beveled gear F upon the actuating-wheel F', whichl is revolubly mounted on the stud E, rigidly secured to the bracket Ei".y

The' operation of my device is as follows: In hoisting material the hook on the endrof chain L isvattached to the material to be raised, and then by actuating the wheel F', through a suitable chain or rope passing over this wheel in the usual manner,v the lwormshaft is revolved, turning the worm-wheel, and thereby drawing up, the chain L, which engages the chain-wheel L. When a load has been raised to the desired height by this means, it may be carried along on the trolley by throwing the clamping-handle down into IOC) inoperative position to release the clamping-V jaws and then by moving the trolley-block bodily along the rail A. The swiveling trolleytrucks at either end of the block allow the more easy movement of Vthe blpck along the rail, since there is no cramping of the trolleywheels B at any curves that may be formed in the rail A. When it is desired to hold the trolley-block in position upon the rail, the clamp is brought into actionl and the clamping-wedge is forced downward between the ends of the clamping-levers, the wedge being in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the clamping-leversare thereupon forced into engagement with the lower edgeof the rail to grip the same and hold the block rmly in position with respect to the rail. Since this clamping device is attached to the swiveling trolley-truck, the two clamping-levers engage the two sides of the rail with equal force and there is a perfect clamping action. This clamping device is especially useful on shipboard, where it is desired to hold the trolleyblock rlnly in place on the track. It is furthermore of great utility where turn-table switches are used for transferring the trolleyblock from one rail to another at an angle thereto by moving the block on the turn-table switch, locking it to such switch, and then turning the switch into alinement with another section of rail.

The clamping device can be released by raising the wedge-handle and by turning the handle through an angle of ninety degrees into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the wedge can pass sidewise between the ends of the clamping-levers, so that it moves out of engagement with these levers.

It will be noted that by giving the side frames E the curved form shown that the hoisting mechanism is brought as close as is possible to the rail, and so the trolley-hoisting block occupies the least possible headroom, which is a very desirable feature when it is employed on shipboard.

It will of course be understood that parts of my invention may be employed without using all of the features which I have disclosed in this case and also that parts of my invention may be employed in connection with other devices. Numerous modifications of my device may be made by those skilled in this art without departing from the principles of my invention. I do not therefore wish to be limited to the exact disclosure which I have made in this case.

What is claimed as new is- 1. In a trolley-block, a block-frame, trolleytrucks secured to said block-frame, a bracket secured to said block-frame, a pair of clamping-levers pivoted to said bracket, a weighted clamping-wedge mounted in a universal joint in said bracket adjacent said levers to engage the ends of said levers to operate the same and to hold'said levers in operative position by the weight of said wedge, said wedge being adapted to move between the ends of said levers to hang out of engagement with said levers.v

2. In a trolley-block, a block-frame, swiveling trolley-trucks secured to said frame at either` end of the same, a bracket secured to one of said trolley-trucks, a clamping-lever pivoted to said bracket, a bearing-sleeve pivoted to said bracket, a manually-operated weighted clamping-wedge mounted to turn in said sleeve, said wedge engaging said lever to operate the saine, the weight of said wedge holding said lever in operative position, said wedge being rotatable in said sleeve to move said wedge past said lever into a depending position out of contact with said levers.

3. In a trolley-block, a block-frame, trolleytrucks secured to said block-frame, two levers pivotally mounted and secured to said blockframe and a wedge mounted to engage said levers to force them into engagement with the track upon which vsaid trolley-trucks run to clamp said trolley-block thereto. Y

4. In a trolley-block, a block-frame, trolleytrucks pivotally attached to said block-frame to engage a trolley-rail, a pair of clampinglevers connected to said trolleys, a wedge mounted adjacent4 said levers to force said levers into engagement with said rail and means whereby said wedge may be moved out of engagement with said levers.

5. In a trolley-block, a block-frame, a swiveling trolley-truck mounted upon said blockfrarne, a pair of levers, pivots about which said levers move rigidly connected with said trolley-truck, a wedge mounted upon said trolley-truck, means to move said wedge into engagement with said levers to clamp said levers against the track upon which said trolley-truck runs and means to turn said wedge so that it does not engage said levers.

6. In a trolley-block, ablock-frame, a trolley-truck mounted upon one end of said blockframe, another trolley-truck mounted upon the other end of said block-frame to swivel about a Vertical axis, said trolley-trucks engaging a trolley-rail, a pair of clamping-levers, pivot-pins for said clamping-levers rigidly secured to said swiveling trolley-truck and a wedge movably mounted upon said swiveling trolley-truck to force said levers into engagement with said rail to clamp said block-frame to said rail.

7. In a trolley-block, a block-frame, trolleytrucks mounted upon either end of said blockfrarne to swivel about said block-frame, said trolley-trucks being adapted to engage a rail, a pair of clamping-levers pivotally connected with one of said trolley-trucks and means to force said levers into engagement with said rail.

8. In a trolley-block, a block-frame, trolleytrucks mounted at either end of said blockframe having antifriction-bearings for said trolley trucks to allow them to swivel in said block frame, an angle bracket secured to one of said trolley-trucks, a pair of clamping-levers pivoted to said bracket, a bearing- IIO IIS

sleeve 'pivoted to said bracket, a clampingwedge mounted to turn in said bearing-'sleeve and an operating -handle securedY to said Wedge whereby. said Wedge 'may force said le# vers into engagement with said rail or whereby said wedge may move between the ends of said levers entirely out of engagement with said levers. j 9. In a trolley-bloeit, a block-frame having curved side members, the ends of said side; members being in the same plane and above' the curved 'central portion of said side mem-Y bers, trolleyf'trncks Vmonnted'on theendsof said block-frame having antifriotion-bearings for said trolley-trucks belovv the ends of said members, a chain-Wheel mounted on said trol-- ley-block frame, the axis of said chain-Wheel being above thev curved central portion of said side members and means to'actuate said chain-wheel,

l0. In a trolley-blook,a block-frame formed with curved side members, trolley-trneks'se- Cured to the ends of said blooklframe having antifriction bearings allowing v said trolleytrueks to swivel about said block-frame', said bearings extending below the ends of said'side' members, a chain-Wheel mounted to revolve` on saidblook-frame, the shaft of said chain-W Wheel being above the centraleurved portion of said side members reducing-gear to aotul ate said chain-wheel and a clamping device,

Said gear-pinn'- y -JoI-INH. Coon...

Secured io one of said trolley-blocks to clampsaid bleek-frame to the rail vupon Which-said trolley-trucks run.

above the central portion of said bleekframe whereby a cliain'rnoving overfsaidfwbeelis substantially eqnidistant frornsaidtrolleys,

aWor'm-sh'aft, a worm vrigid on said shaft, a

beveled pinionrigid on said sl1a f`t,"snitable bearings for said shaft and'fan actdating`r Wheel having abeveled gear formed thereon to engage saidfbeveledpinion.

12. 1n a trolley-block, a'ourved bleek-frame,

` a pair of Atrolleytuioke mounted at 'eitherend of said bleek-frame, a shaft revolnbl'y monntf ed labove the' eentalnnrved Lportion 'of said bleek-frame,aJ Chain-wheel and a Wormwheel I l rigid on s airi'shaft, a Wrm-Sliaft inntedin' suitable bearingson said bloek-framelworm,

and a pinion fast on saidivor'ing-sh'aft 'andan aotuating-Wheel formed with Aa. gear engaging Witnesses:

S. LAWRENCE, Il. L. Menden. 

